The Taliban have access to US military aircraft. Now what happens?

[rangerrebew]

The Taliban have access to US military aircraft. Now what happens?
By Valerie Insinna
 Tuesday, Aug 17
 

WASHINGTON — Once the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan’s airfield in Kandahar on Friday, it didn’t take long for photos to appear on social media showing Taliban fighters posing with military helicopters such as U.S.-made Black Hawks and Soviet-made Mi-17s.

After the group took over Mazar-i-Sharif airport this weekend, more photos followed, this time of Taliban members standing next to an A-29 attack plane and MD-530 utility helicopter.

Now, with Afghanistan under Taliban control, the question is no longer whether the organization will gain access to the Afghan air force’s inventory of U.S.-provided planes and helicopters, but what it plans to do with them — and what the U.S. military can do in response.

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/08/17/the-taliban-has-access-to-us-military-aircraft-now-what-happens/

[skeeter]

They're probably regretting they executed all the pilots now.

[PeteS in CA]

What the Talibanders acquired might be a concern to Afghanistan's neighbors, a small concern, given those countries' air assets. Even Iran's old F-5Es or Pakistan's old Mirage IIIs would view the A-29s as target practice. OTOH, if the Talibanders learn how to use what they captured, the aircraft might be turned on any local efforts to rebel.

[Fishrrman]

"The Taliban have access to US military aircraft. Now what happens?"

1. taliban pilot suits up
2. taliban pilot gets into cockpit
3. taliban pilot taxis into position
4. taliban pilot takes off
5. taliban pilot crashes

6. next taliban pilot suits up...

[berdie]

Unless the Chinese and Russians supply maintenance and air support it may take a few years.

I will differ with most on this site because I don't think these people are cave dwellers. They may dress/look like cavemen but I think some are pretty intelligent. And use the Cave Men as disposable soldiers.

[sneakypete]

They sell them to people who know how to maintain and fly them.

This really isn't such a big deal since those aircraft require a LOT of maintenence,and all we have to do is refuse to sell them parts,and they never fly again. IIRC,you have to specify the aircraft frame number to order any parts for it,so that will immediately identify it is a plane in the possession of our sworn enemy.

Which of course doesn't mean the Dims will refuse to sell them parts.